Chinese Paintings – Modern

S otheby’s Fine Chinese Paintings Department offers exceptional works from the 19th century to the modern era, highlighting both traditional and modern artistic styles and underscoring the deep connection between poetry, calligraphy, painting, and the artist’s seal.

The expertise of Sotheby’s Chinese Paintings specialists is widely recognised throughout Asia and, as a result, our team has been entrusted with the sale of many rare and exceptional works from revered masters – from late Qing dynasty artists including He Shaoji, Dai Xi, Wu Dacheng, Lu Hui, Kang Youwei to modern masters Qi Baishi, Zhang Daqian, Fu Baoshi, Pan Tianshou, Li Keran, Xu Beihong, Wu Guanzhong and Lin Fengmian. This department has offered such celebrated single-owner collections as the record-breaking The Mei Yun Tang Collection of Paintings by Chang Dai-chien (in 2011, 2013, and 2023), the three-part Important Chinese Paintings from The Robert Chang Collection, and The Vermillion Pavillion Collection of 20th Century Fine Chinese Paintings, the Collection of Dr. Oskar Trautmann, Huang Menggui Collection of Xu Beihong and Qi Baishi, the Collection of Tung Chiao, the Collection of Fei Cheng-wu and Chang Chien-ying, and the Collection of Paul Chang’s Children.

Sotheby’s Chinese Paintings has achieved market leadership for more than a decade. In 2023, the department accomplished an eight-year high record total of HK$1.2 billion (US$149 million), with two lots exceeding HK$100 million, namely Zhang Daqian's Pink Lotuses on Gold Screen (HK$250 million) and Autumn Mountains in Twilight (HK$190 million). In The Hong Kong Sales of spring 2024, a roster of three sales was presented, namely Hidden Treasures from the Liu Hankun Family Collection, Fine Chinese Paintings and The Leshantang Collection (II) – Treasures of Chinese Art from the Tsai I-Ming Collection, offering a total of more than 260 modern paintings and calligraphy, which realised in excess of HK$300 million, and saw a near 90% sell-through rate, once again reinforcing Sotheby’s leading position in the market. The season was led by Red Robe Avalokiteshvara, as one of the most iconic examples of Zhang Daqian’s mural copy of figures from the Dunhuang caves, which exceeded its high estimate and fetched HK$77.6 million.

Sotheby's Fine Chinese Paintings Department has long spearheaded the auction market for Zhang Daqian, currently holding the top three records of the artist, for both traditional ink and splashed colour paintings. Since the 1980s, Sotheby's has achieved remarkable results, breaking the artist's auction records with Lotus and Mandarin Ducks in 2011 and Peach Blossom Spring in 2016. In April 2022, Zhang Daqian's masterpiece Landscape after Wang Ximeng – a mesmerising blue-green landscape outlined in gold – was sold for HK$370 million (US$47 million), attaining a new auction record for the artist, and establishing the work as the most valuable Chinese painting ever sold by Sotheby’s.

Dedicated auctions for Modern Chinese Paintings are held in Hong Kong during spring and autumn. In advance of our sales, our team of internationally recognised specialists would be delighted to provide you with a free and confidential valuation. Find out how to receive an estimate of your scroll, calligraphy, or painting with Sotheby's.